On September 14, 2018, the Center bestowed its inaugural Eleanor Roosevelt Prize for Global Human Rights Advancement to former Nuremberg War Crimes prosecutor Benjamin B. Ferencz and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at a reception and dinner held at Roosevelt House (of Hunter College) in New York City. In attendance at the intimate gathering were approximately 70 ABA leaders and CHR supporters.
Coinciding with this year’s 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Center established the annual Roosevelt Prize to honor persons or organizations having a positive, global impact in advancing the principles of the UDHR, of which Eleanor Roosevelt was an indispensable champion. Judge Bernice Donald, CHR Chair, presided over the festivities, and dinner co-chairs Walter White and Tracy Roosevelt, great-granddaughter of Eleanor Roosevelt, presented the prizes to Ferencz and Clinton, respectively. Eleanor Roosevelt historian Allida Black gave remarks at the reception, detailing the history of Roosevelt House and Eleanor Roosevelt’s determined and indefatigable advocacy of the UDHR. The honorees gave extended remarks upon receiving the prizes at the dinner ceremony.